A major arts and film festival is returning to Paisley with another fascinating line-up of acts and shows.

The Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival (SMHAFF) has announced it will be officially launching its schedule of events at Paisley Town Hall.

Now in its sixth year, the festival has expanded in size from a weekend of film in 2007 to a month-long event across the country.

Tickets are on sale now for more than 250 events including theatre, film, music, dance, comedy, literature and visual arts taking place across Scotland throughout the festival, which runs from October 1 to 24.

And in Renfrewshire, the line-up is just as impressive.

Highlights include The Big Drum, which will take place on September 27 in the town hall following the official launch. It will feature local drumming groups and Paisley’s own Charleston Drum – a key feature of the annual Sma’ Shot Day celebrations.

Local writers group Read Raw Ltd will be exhibiting poems on the festival’s theme, ‘walk in my shoes’ in shop windows around Paisley, while the Paisley Arts Centre will screen popular films My Name Is Joe and Walk The Line.

Loud ‘n’ Proud will be putting on its 10th anniversary showcase at Paisley Town Hall while walkers can take part in some public art up the Gleniffer Braes.

Festival director Lee Knifton said: “SMHAFF has evolved to be a broader social justice festival where we’re not just looking at improving mental health for everyone, we’re looking at reducing the inequalities in well-being that we experience as a community.

“The festival is about social justice, it’s about tackling stigma, it’s about exploring mental health identities and it’s about connecting people and organisations that otherwise wouldn’t meet.”

Isabella Goldie, head of Mental Health Foundation Scotland, praised the festival. She said: “The Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival has gradually become one of the most exciting, innovative and important arts events in Scotland’s cultural calendar.

“Not only because each year the quality of the art on offer just keeps getting better and better, but many will know that this festival is much, much more than a series of fantastic and of course accessible events - it’s a celebration of the human spirit.”

For more information on what’s happening across Renfrewshire, dates, venues and ticket prices, go to www.facebook.com/pages/Renfrewshire-Scottish-Mental-Health-Arts-Film-Festival-2012/143256972423135 or www.mhfestival.com